Electric flood signal



Aug. 31, 1948.

J. O. WILLIAMS ELECTRIC FLOOD SIGNAL Filed Oct. 31, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Jncos '0. Wu L /A M 5,

Q 1948- a J. o. WILLIAMS 2,448,340 i ELECTRIC-FLOOD SIGNAL Filed 001;. 31, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q i ".34 u /-?wentor /A cos 0. MALI/4M6,

n I L I Patented Aug. 31, 1948 UNITED; STATES" PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC. FLOOD SIGNAL Jacob 0. Williams, San Bernardino, Calif. Application October 31, 1944, Serial No. 561,297

This invention relates to flood signals and espe cially to signals giving warning that a dangerous condition has .arisen near orbehind a-darn, levee, dike, canal, water breaker or;the like, and ithas for its object to provide an arrangement whereby a warning message is broadcast or special fiood Warning signals are actuated as soon as the situ: ation has become critical.

The principal and mostfimportant component of the arrangement, according to the invention is a float operated switch, suchas described in Patent No. 2,284,127, granted to me which closes,

electric circuits if, the level raises above or falls below a high or low level mark respectively. This switch moreover, permits to cut out the use either of the high level or the useof the low level contactsin accordance with requirements, and the switch also permits testing of the equipment.

In the course of tests relating to the develop ment of dangerousconditions, on, near, or behind a dam, like, levee, canal, or water breaker, it has invention to arrange a float operated switch, such been found that the known practice of giving an,

alarm signal to the operating personnel will lead to the timely operation of a public alarmonly in cases in which dangerous conditions develop slowly or gradually. For, the starting of a public alarm cannot be entrusted to the persons directly receiving the alarm signals, who are not qualified to judge conditions. The notification that an alarming condition exists has therefore first to be transmitted to some responsible expert.

Quite a number of dangerous conditions, in cluding thoseof the most dangerous type, arise moreover suddenly. Flooding due to cloud bursts, to heavy rain falls to the sudden melting of snow in great quantities or to a dam or dike break, may be mentioned as examples. Some defects leading to flooding may develop slowly, but the early stages are sometimes not discovered in time. Protection against such suddenly arising dangers is insufficient with the systems as above explained. To provide an alarm against suddenly occurring floods, it seems preferable to substitute a completely automatic public alarm for the alarm signals given merely to the operating personnel, as this substitution eliminates the risk of delays due to the fact that the personnel in such installations have to perform duties keeping them from the permanent watching of a signal. Such an automatic alarm device can however only be used if it is capable of discriminating between normal fluctuations, which do not produce alarming conditions, and conditions involving an imminent danger to life and property.

It is, therefore, one of the main objects of the as described in my earlier patent, in such a relation to the dam, levee, dike, canal, or breakwater, that the water lever either sinks or raises to the point at which the float switch becomes operative merely in cases of great emergency. With this object in view the invention consists in a float operated switch, adjusted for operation at. its low water level' contacts which is located in a water chamber communicating with a channel or feedway the intake opening of which is located at a point which is only drained or depleted when abnormal or emergency conditions have developed.

Under these conditions the switch may form part of a control circuit directly controlling the operation of a wireless transmitter provided with a record modulating the carrier wave of, the same which broadcasts an appropriate warning. I i 4 Where a public telephonic or telegraphic warning system is installed, it is clear that the switch may transmit its warningover thisnetwork.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings showing two modifications, one of which is relative to a system so arranged that the sinking of the water level below a certain mark will operate the alarm, while the other modification shows a system in which the raising of the Water level above a certain mark will operate the alarm.

In the accompanying drawings 7 Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a dam site.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same site taken at right angles to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a modificationof the invention as used in connection with a dam or dike.

Figure 4 is a diagram of connections of the controlled alarm system.

As seen in the drawings, Figure 1 shows a dam site 5 indicating the top of a dam running across a valley.

The dam is provided with the customary overflow outlets 1,, and with the additional outlets 8 and 9, the former being the outlet of an aqueduct, while the outlet 9, which is located below the low water level I6, is used for supplying a turbine.

Below this low water level a vaulted chamber ll having the form of a vaulted passage is arranged communicating with a float chamber l2.

The location of chamber II has to be carefully chosen in accordance with conditions to be expected in connection with an expected emergency. In the event of a big dam the greatest danger is that due to a dam burst or break, causing the valley below the dam to be flooded. When such It will be noted that in this case the alarm sysa dam :burst occurs, the water level suddenly tem is connected with the high water level condrops, adopting an unusual position and inclinatacts oi. the float switch operated when the float tion, which may be calculated in advance. has reached its uppermost or high level position.

These water level demarcations, occurring in 5 A seepage water outlet 35 is arranged at an the event of a burst, break or washout followed appropriate height to prevent water from underby destruction of part of the structure, show a ground sources to rise within the float chamber marked inclination towards the horizontal in the to a level which might cause operation of the vicinity of:;the ;dam; They arewepresenteddn; float.

Figure 1 by-the line i5,' sh,own in dotsand dashes. 10 Wh'emwatenis rising toiith. level. bf; the water The water level near the dam leaves an approxiintake, the feedway 33 and the chamber 34 is mately triangular zone below the natural levelti fillin When the chamber 34 is full of water depleted of water as shown by line l5 and by, theflfloat is raised and operates the circuit in the selecting the place for the chamber ll below-the manneralready described.

lowest natural level within this triangularr z(.1rle;.:;- 5;; t;will;. eirrl a the broadcasting Sy te a. sufficient degree of security is established so will be operated when the water has reached a that the float chamber and the-float will n otbe-= -dangerous telltale-threatening to flood the valley affected by conditions manifesting themselves=;- protected by the dam or dike.

during normal operations of the dam, but will As mentioned, the signalling system and other cause the floatto operate solelyin the event of a details may be changed without departing from dangerouszbreakg It" will be; noted that emergency the essence; ofithe-inventionr conditions which -result=in1flooding are indicated; Wh'atIc1aim-se-: I

by the depletion of the float, chamber and-by;the A .discrimiriatingyprotectiv'e -public' alarm sys e: i operation ofthe ,10W'j'W&t I"f]-6Y1 contacts of the tem-for supervising'dikes-and'dams restraining a i. switch, when ithe 'floathas -reached--its lowest" bodygof 'waterwoperated-only under emergency level; conditionsrproduced*by-adam*or=dile breakxbut Above the chamber]2'; the float switch I 8," denotoperatedbynormalwater level'*fluctuati onsi,.p scribed in Patent'dNo. 2,281g127gis arranged; The. comprising a float chamber forming a separate" push rod- I01 mentioned in-this-patent and desig-' V clQ'sed compartmenb reachlng' down"below the,

nated; therein-by the same numeral, and the float lowest iow water level ofthe bodyf' of'watery a H arediagrammatically indicatedin theirposi-- float *operated "'switch '"arrangementziincluding "a; tion in -chamber-l2.- float operating; withinzrsaid ifloat. *chamber ;and..'

Thefloat-operated switch l8, which is mounted i fioahcontrolleldiswitch contacts operative'atithe 1' above chamber 12 is providedwith contactsqof lowest float leyel'ya twater channelfleading from which --only- 'conta'cts -l 9," 20* needv be, mentioned. said-float chambento' the body 'of-water' andv hay-I The -former is' thfilQW -1evel-- contact of; the float ing'itsintaKe' located below-the lowest" low water switch, the" latter the permanent circuit (Fig, 4) level immediately-behind the .dam' 'orl'dike to i be contact ofthe same; In the said circuit; which; protectedfi'within-a 'trianguiarfspace runcovered includes the battery or :batteries -2 ii, a relay 22', solely;upon"'formation-ohm inclined wvater. level is arranged, controlling the-current supplyto the upong'idamw'or-dike'abreakj'and"meansfirrcluding electronic equipmentof a the transmitter 23;and an automatically pperativebroadcast transmitter,

the motor 24- ofthe record carrier oi-a phone: for-transmittinganjalarrrr'messagefoperated by graphic recordergZFir- The transmitter by means thesaid-switchcontacts: of the antenna.- 26= isina position to broadcast the. JACQBZOL'IWIIJLIAMS'I; recordedmessagew l Figure-3- shows an installation such as: used in; 1 REFERENGESSCI'EEDZ t- "with a flood Water resisting dam; dike! The,lfollowin rreieitenceslare oily-record timthem P E file. .of;.thi's patentza Theda-m; dike orpier- 1S" 1ndicated at 30; the; .7 7 level of the earth or valley at 3|. In the cdam" UNIEEBZSTKEESEPATENTST or pier a water-intake 3 2 "is arranged which Number Name] Dates; forms-the end-of a water feedway or channel33. 31-2325 1 E ,;19o, commun-icating withthe float chamber 341* In 1907,3205 Harper May2,1:193'3; said chamber the float-11 and thefloat-carrying 2022891 Walters; v.... Dec. 3,";l935j push rodis arranged? Above it agam'the float switch- I8 is mounted, connected withbattery-Zl; relay 22, and circuit 23, as described before: 

